December is now in full swing as are all the activities related to the holiday season. From shopping, to parties, to those getaways to escape the cold, Canadians are moving and mingling. Sadly, this time also marks an upwards shift in the number of respiratory infections.

As we say goodbye to the warmth of the fall and hello to winter, our thoughts turn to the season known as the holidays. We will undoubtedly hear of and be invited to a number of work parties, family gatherings, and social soirees. But while these moments may lead to our hearts being comforted, for many this season, another sensation may occur: gastrointestinal upset.

The complaints of a cold, the dread of diarrhea, and vexation of vomiting are all part of a child's growing up process. But one of the keys to a happy school year is to have these unfortunate events happen as infrequently as possible. For that, kids have to be hygienic and stay that way.

However, one action, hand hygiene, learned in our youth has an incredible ability to keep us healthy, but also to ensure an even safer world. Because of this link between hand hygiene and health, the WHO has set aside May 5th as a day for celebration of this part of our daily life.

October also brings in a day that commemorates what should be a part of our daily activities but for many is either forgotten or simply ignored: handwashing. It's not a surprise as handwashing is not considered -- other than perhaps in the public health field -- to be an incredibly important part of living.

According to some advertisements, back to school is the most wonderful time of the year. But for many parents, the dawn of the school year can also mark a much less joyous time, filled with sniffles, coughs, and diarrhea.

Anyone who has suffered from pneumonia -- or witnessed a loved one battle with the illness -- knows how scary the episode can be. The lungs fill with fluid, breathing becomes difficult and at times impossible, requiring hospitalization, and without proper treatment, the consequences can be dire. Like many illnesses, this too can be traced back to a germ.

Of all the places to which sun seekers migrate, none is as popular as the beach or swimming pool. For many, there is nothing quite like becoming one with the water. Unfortunately, the escape comes with its own challenges, namely that of infections.

On May 5th, the WHO will be celebrating its annual SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands day to mark its campaign to help save lives from infections in healthcare. While the association between infections and having clean hands had been known there was little indication that it could have been this bad.

The norovirus infection is short, lasting only 48 to 72 hours but during that time, one might believe they have been put into one of Ridley Scott's Alien movies. But there are thankfully a few ways to thwart this perfect villain.

From the moment they enter daycare to the celebrations of high school graduation, kids inevitably come into contact with these unseen entities and many will get sick. But while there may be endless concerns for health, there is a positive in that these moments of unhappiness will end up benefiting their lives as much as if not more than the pains of homework.

Far away from the headlines of this headline-grabbing Olympics is an important lesson that can bring solace to almost every germaphobe. Unlike any other Olympics before, these Games have shown that preventing infection is not only possible, but also relatively easily accomplished.

According to a recent study, hand hygiene checklists may offer the solution to a problem that annually costs thousands of mothers their lives. The checklist section concerning hand hygiene stated the following: "Supplies available to clean hands and wear gloves for each vaginal exam," and differed from a previous, unsuccessful campaigns by one word: "each."